Govt allots P15M for butanding protection efforts

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the strengthening of protection for butanding (whale sharks), which can only be found in Philippine water and is considered an endangered species due to commercial fishing. The President issued Administrative Order 282 last March 24, directing concerned government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to intensify protection efforts. "The recent incident of whale shark killing last Feb. 15, 2010 in Tingloy, Batangas was a direct affront to the Philippine Government as host to the meeting of experts that crafted the Conservation Plan for Migratory Sharks and as signatory to the MOU (memorandum of understanding) to achieve and maintain a favorable conservation status for migratory sharks," the AO read. A total of P15 million has been set aside from the Presidential Social Fund to support the capacity building and operations of LGUs and government agencies tasked to implement the heightened protection of migratory whale sharks. Under AO 282, concerned government agencies and LGUs are instructed to sustain the ecotourism development in coastal communities where the so called "gentle giants of the sea" have migrated. President Arroyo likewise ordered the mapping of locations of whale sharks in the Philippine waters for government and public information. She directed the Philippine Navy, the Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police (PNP), Maritime Command, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to coordinate with experts to locate, monitor and protect the whale sharks' pathways in the Philippine waters. Concerned LGUs were also directed to rescue any wounded whale shark found within their area of jurisdiction. The National Bureau of Investigation and National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice were ordered to intensify efforts in the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases involving violation of laws, rules and regulations on the protection of whale sharks. Grant of rewards to persons who provide information leading to the arrest of any person harming or killing a whale shark, or who leads to the rescue or protection of a wounded whale shark was also ordered. The Department of Agriculture and DENR were tasked to draft the implementing rules regarding the government's incentive program. - KBK, GMANews.TV